Notes ASF Courses Reach Thousands, Help Bring Numbers Down
When the Federal Aviation
Association announced this week general aviation pilots had
exceeded safety goals for the fiscal year just completed, the
success was due in large part to industry efforts, notes the
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.
In particular, the AOPA Air Safety Foundation played a
significant role, reaching tens of thousands of pilots who either
attended one of more than 200 in-person safety seminars held around
the country or completing one or more of the Foundation’s
nearly two dozen online safety courses. The Foundation recorded
more than a quarter of a million course completions during the same
fiscal year.
"For more than 55 years, we’ve been teaching pilots how to
be safer in the air, helping to drive down the accident numbers,"
said Bruce Landsberg, executive director of the AOPA Air Safety
Foundation. "Our in-person safety seminars set the standard in live
safety education for decades, reaching tens of thousands of pilots
each year. And the rise of the Internet has let us expand our reach
and teach tens of thousands more each year."
As ANN reported, the FAA set
a goal of not more than 331 fatal accidents for general aviation
during Fiscal Year 2007 (October 1, 2006 - September 30, 2007). The
actual number was 314. The number of fatalities also dropped
dramatically, from 676 in FY2006 to 564 in FY2007.
With courses like Weather Wise: Thunderstorms, Weather Wise:
Ceilings and Visibility, Runway Safety, and Single Pilot IFR, the
Air Safety Foundation has a solid history of examining safety data,
identifying problems and trends, and developing courses that teach
pilots how to stay out of trouble. And now, the Foundation is
taking steps with courses like its new Aging Aircraft online course
to address safety concerns before they become safety problems.
"The key to improving safety is to help pilots understand their
ability, their aircraft and their situation, and then take steps to
mitigate any risks," said Landsberg.
The AOPA Air Safety Foundation is the nation’s only
private, nonprofit organization dedicated exclusively to providing
continuing pilot education and safety programs for general
aviation. It is funded by donations from individual pilots and
organizations, which support the cause of improved general aviation
safety.